Method of making lubrication fittings



'Jan. 26, 1937. w. R. KONKLE METHOD OF MAKING LUBRlCATI ON FITTINGS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1934 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan; 26, 1937a Walter B. Konkle, Albion, Mich, signer-to Decker Screw Products Company, Albion,

Mich.

Original application October 5, 1934, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 10. 1935, Serial No. 11,489

9 Claims. (01. 29-1574) This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 746,947, filed October 5, 1934, for Lubrication fittings and method of making same.

The main objects of this invention are:-

First, toprovide a lubrication fitting which is well adapted for use in pressure lubricating systems of the type now commonly used in automotive vehicles.

Second, to provide a lubrication fitting of this character which is economical to manufacture and which is efficient in operation.

Third, to provide an improved method of making lubrication fittings, which is economical and which produces a superior fitting.

Fourth, to provide an improved method of seating a valve.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section of a bar of round solid stock having a fitting teat partially cut therefrom in one step of mymethod.

Fig. '2 is a fragmentary view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section of a bar of hexagonal solid stock having a screwthreaded fitting body partially cut therefrom in accordance with another step of my method.

Fig. 3' is a view in side elevation of the valve seating spring.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the valve ball.

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of the finished fitting body.

Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of the finished teat.

inch hexagonal steel to make one thousand. The

main purpose of this invention is to reduce the quantity of hexagonal steel used inmaking thefittings and the total stock and to thereby. reduce the cost thereof. Further, in the past, the en- ,tire fitting had to be hardened although the only part which needs hardening is the teat. In my invention, I make it possible to caseharden the 5 teat of the fitting separately from the threaded part before assembling the same. 1

I make my fitting in two parts, which results in a saving of approximately ten per cent in raw material. For the same over-all size for one 10 thousand fittings, my method requires only twenty-eight pounds of seven-sixteenth inch hexagonal steel and eight pounds of one-quarter inch steel. Thus, by confining the body of the fitting to the hexagonal stock, and by using round stock for the teat or nose of the fitting, I greatly reduce the cost of raw material. Other advantages which flow from my method are set forth herein.

Referring to the drawing, I first form from solid hexagonal stock I a body 2 having a short hexagonal head part 8 provided with a small central bore 4 and an externally threaded long tubular part 5 terminating "in a tapered end portion 6 and provided with a large central bore I connected to the small central bore 4 by an inclined shoulder 8. The body is cut from the stock in an automatic screw machine.

Likewise, in an automatic screw machine, I form from solid round stock 9 a tubular teat l0 having a reduced inner end portion H adapted to fit the small bore 4 of the body 2. In the drawing, the relative size of the parts is shown greatly enlarged for convenience of illustration, the stock 9 preferably being one-quarter inch round steel and the hexagonal stock I being seven-sixteenth inch hexagonal steel. It is understood that these sizes are for straight lubrication fittings of standard size, such fittings being adapted to be usedwith standard grease guns or equipment, either plain or hydraulic. The teats 40 may be casehardened as desired.

Next, I telescope together the teat l0 and body 2 and insert the metal valve ball l2 on the inner end of the teat within the large bore 1 of the body.

The ball is then struck with a tool in a punch press or other machine adapted to press together the ball and teat to cause the ball to expand the inner end of the teat. The result is to form simultaneously an internal annular ball valve seat i3 therein, and upset the inner end of the teat formits'own valve seat is a highly desirable feature inasmuch as this insures proper seating of the valve in operation and avoids the necessity of a seating operation. I

The conical spring I4 is then inserted in the borel with its small end engaging the ball and its large end in sliding engagement with the bore. The spring is compressed so that its outer end is within the bore and the tapered end portion Ms then turned inwardly to provide an internal annular stop I 5 for the outer end of the spring. This is carried out in a stamping or riveting machine turning the tapered end portion inwardly in the desired manner. The internal annular stop l5 provides a support for the entire outer end of the spring and thereby furnishes a complete support for the latter as distinguished from the spaced lug-like supports heretofore employed.

The teat l6 as shown by Fig. 8 is similar to the teat ill with .the exception that the nose i! of the teat is rounded as shown.

From the above description of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I not only provide a superior fitting, but one which is more economical to manufacture than the previously known type. By making the fitting in two parts, I use less raw material and economize owing to the fact that the teat can be separately casehardened. I also provide a more efiicient and efi'ective valve owing to my use of the ball to form its own seat and connect the fitting parts,

and the provision of a continuous support for the outer end of the spring.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. describe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

It might be mentioned that I have illustrated and described the bodyas externally threaded. For certain types of fittings and in certain installations, internal threads are preferred or required.

Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are posagonal stock a body having a short hexagonal head portion provided with a small central bore, and an externally threaded tubular portion terminating in a tapered end portion and provided with a large central bore connected to said small central bore by an inclined shoulder, forming from solid round stock a casehardened tubular teat having a reduced inner end portion adapted to fit said small bore, telescoping together said teat and body, inserting a metal valve ball on the inner end of said teat within said large bore of the screw body, compressing together said ball and teat to cause the ball to expand the inner end of the teat to simultaneously form an internal ball valve seat therein and upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat and head portion in fixed] assembled relation, inserting a conical spring into I have not attempted to illustrate or said large bore with the small end of the spring engaging said valve ball, and compressing together the ends of said body to cause the tapered end portion of the tubular body to turn over inwardly and provide an annular stop for the outer end of said spring. I

2. The method of making a lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of. forming from hexagonal stock a body having a head portion provided with a small .cen-. tral bore, and an externally threaded portion terminating in a tapered end portion and pro-- vided with a large central bore connected to said small central bore by an inclined shoulder, forming from solid round stock a casehardened tu- 'bular teat having a reduced inner end portion adapted to fit said small bore, telescoping together said teat and body, inserting a metal valve ball on the inner end of said teat within said large bore of the screw body, compressing together said ball and teat to cause the ball to expand the inner end of the teat to simultaneously form an internal ball valve seat therein and upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat, and head portion in fixed assembled relation, inserting a spring enaging said valve ball, and compressing together the ends of said body to cause the tapered end ,portion of. the tubular body to turn over inwardly and provide an annular stop for the outer end of said spring. 1 i 3. The method of making a lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of forming from polygonal stock a body having a head portion provided with a small central bore, and an externally threaded portion provided with a large central bore connected to said small central bore by a shoulder, forming from solid round stock a casehardened tubular teat having a reduced inner end portion adapted to fit said small bore, telescoping together said teat and body, inserting a metal-valve ball on the inner end of said teat within said large bore of, the body, andcompressing together said ball and teat to cause the ball to expand the inner end of the teat to simultaneously form an internal ball valve seat therein and upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat and body in fixed assembled relation.

4. The method of making a lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of forming from polygonal stock a body having a head portion provided with a small central bore, and an externally l threaded portion provided with a large central bore connected to 'said small central bore by a shoulder, forming a teat having a reduced inner end portion adapted to fit said small bore, telescoping together said teat and body, inserting a ball on the inner end of said'teat within said large bore of the body, and compressing together said ball and teat to simultaneously form an internal valve seat therein and upset the inner end of .the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat and body in fixed assembled relation.

5 The method of making a straight lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of forming a body having a hexagonal head portion provided with a small central bore, and an externally threaded tubular portion terminating in a tapered end portion and provided with a large central bore connected to said small central bore by an inclined shoulder, forming a casehardened tubular teat having a reduced inner end portion adapted to fit said small bore,

telescoping together said teat and body, expanding the inner end of the teat to simultaneously form an internal valve seat therein and upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the, teat and head portion in fixed assembled relation, inserting a valve spring into said large bore, and compressing together the ends of said body to cause the tapered end portion of the tubular body to turn over inwardly and provide an annular stop for the outer end of said spring. 7

6. The method of making a straight lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of forming a body having a hexagonal head portion provided with a small central bore, and an externally threaded tubular portion provided with a large centralbore connected to said small central bore by an inclined shoulder, forming a teat having a reduced inner end portion adapted to fit said small bore, telescoping together said teat and body, and expanding the inner end of the teat to simultaneously form an internal valve seat therein and upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat and head portion in fixed assembled relation.

7. The method of making a straight lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of forming from solid hexagonal stock a tubular body having an internal annular inclined shoulder, forming from solid round stock a. casehardened tubular teat having a reduced inner end portion, fitting said teat and body together with said inner end portion telescoped within the body, and with a metal valve ball expanding the inner end of said teat to thereby simultaneously provide a seat for said ball and upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat and body in fixed assembled relation.

8. The method of making a lubrication fitting of the character set forth, which comprises the steps of forming a tubular body having an internal annular inclined shoulder, forming a casehardened tubular teat having a reduced inner end portion, fitting said teat and body together with said inner end portion telescoped within the body, and expanding the inner end of said teat to thereby upset the inner end of the teat over said inclined shoulder to lock the teat and body in fixed assembled relation.

9. The method of making a lubrication fitting of the character set forth which comprises the steps of forming a tubular body having an internal shoulder and a tubular teat member having a reduced inner end portion, inserting the reduced inner end portion of the teat member into the body member, and using a valve as a tool to expand the inner end of the teat member to thereby upset it over the said shoulder and simultaneously provide a valve seat.

WALTER R. KONKLE. 

